Universal support structure for springboards



Oct. l, 1968 R Q RUDE UNIVERSAL SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR SPRINGBOARDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed sept. 27, 1965 Oct. l, 1968 R. c. RUDE 3,403,880

UNIVERSAL SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR SPRINGBOARDS Filed Sept. 2'?, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENTOR.

@wmf/ i /Pf United States Patent O 3,403,880 UNIVERSAL SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR SPRINGBOARDS Raymond C. Rude, 2468 Wagner, Pasadena, Calif. 91107 Filed Sept. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 490,288 3 Claims. (Cl. 248-346) This invention provides a support structure for springboards. More particularly, it provides a foundation for a movable fulcrum for a driving board.

Where a movable fulcrum, such as the fulcrum described in my prior United States Patent 3,072,401 and in my copending application for United States patent Ser. No. 490,050, tiled Sept. 24, 1965 and now U.S. Patent No. 3,372,927, is used in conjunction with a diving board, the structure along which the fulcrum is movable carries a pair of parallel horizontal rails. These rails are located below the diving board between the ends of the board and are aligned parallel to the length of the board. If the structure to which the rails are mounted permit the rails to rack relative to each other, then the movement of the fulcrum along the rails is hindered. If the rails are racked sutiiciently out of a common horizontal plane, the fulcrum may bind on the rails and cease to be movable.

Racking of the fulcrum guide and support rails can be prevented by mounting the rails to a very rigid structure. A very rigid structure, however, is costly to construct, especially where the diving board is disposed high over a swimming pool. Also, because of its rigidity, the support structure becomes much stronger than is needed to carry the diving board and the loads imposed on the diving board.

This invention provides a simple, effective, economic and aesthetically pleasing foundation for a movable fulcrum for a diving board and the like. The foundation is adapted for mounting to the upper end of a springboard support pedestal to mount a pair of rails along which the fulcrum is movable. Because of the `Construction of the foundation, the rigidity of the pedestal is not the principal criterion in the pedestal design. Thus, the pedestal can be lightweight and inexpensive. The pedestal, if desired, may be fabricated of concrete; concrete pedestals are frequently used where the diving board is mounted close to the surface of a swimming pool. In the past, concrete pedestals have been especially troublesome because of the diiculty of mounting the rails in horizontal parallelism to such pedestals.

Generally speaking, this invention provides a foundation and support Ifor a springboard movable fulcrum. The foundation is adapted to be secured to a springboard support structure. The foundation comprises an open elongate frame. Means are provided at three locations disposed in a triangular relation to each other for releasably yet securely connecting the frame to the springboard support structure. A pair of parallel spaced rails are carried by the frame along the upper extent of the frame.

The foundation is adapted for three-point bolted connection to the springboard support structure. Accordingly, deection or deformation of the springboard support structure must be extreme before the rails carried by the foundation are racked out of a common and preferably horizontal plane. If the springboard support structure is deformed sufficiently to cause the rails to rack out of a common plane, proper rail alignment can be restored easily Iby loosening the foundation on the support structure and shimming the foundation back into a position wherein the rails are properly aligned.

The above-mentioned and other features of the present invention are more fully set forth in the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment 3,403,880 Patented Oct. 1, 1968 ice of the invention, which description is presented in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the present foundation disposed between a springboard support pedestal and a movable fulcrum;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the foundation shown in FIG. l; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation view taken along lines 3*-3 of FIG. 2.

A foundation 10 according to this invention is shown in FIG. l mounted to the upper end of a diving board support pedestal 12. The pedestal is constructed in accord with my United States Design Patent 195,038, issued Apr. 16, 1963, although it is understood that the pedestal may be fabricated in accord with my United States Design Patent 191,830 issued Nov. 28, 1961. Pedestal 12 may even be a massive block of concrete, particularly where the foundation is used in conjunction with a one meter diving board. A movable fulcrum 13, constructed in accord with my copending United States patent application Ser. No. 490,050, tiled Sept. 24, 1965 is movably mounted to the foundation. The fulcrum includes a rotatable drum 14 mounted in a frame 15 so that the drum is disposed transversely of, and engages the underside of a diving board, not shown, intermediate the ends of the diving board. A diver standing on the diving board over the fulcrum may engage his Ifoot with a wheel 16 secured to the drum to drive the drum against the bottom of the diving board, thereby causing the frame to move relative to the foundation along a pair of parallel, spaced, horizontal rails 17 secured to the foundation.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the foundation is defined by a frame 20 preferably cast from aluminum. The frame has essentially vertically disposed side walls 21 and 22, and opposite substantially vertically disposed end walls 23 and 24. The .frame side and end walls are oriented in a rectilinear relationship so that the frame has a rectangular planform configuration. The frame also has an open top 25 and an essentially open Ibottom 26. If desired, as shown in FIG. 1, the side and end walls of the frame may be angled slightly to the vertical to provide a more aesthetic unit.

A peripheral ange 28 extends horizontally inwardly from the frame end and side walls around the entire extent of the periphery of the frame. Similarly an inwardly extending horizontal ange 29 extends from the side and end walls of the frame around the entire peripheral extent of the lower end of the frame. Along the sides of the frame, flange 28 has an increased and reinforced thickness as shown at 30; the upper surface of flange 2S, around the entire extent of the frame, lies in a common horizontal plane. When the frame is fabricated by a casting procedure, the upper surfaces of reinforced flanges 30 are ground coplanar with each other.

A pair of longitudinal strut rilbs 32 and 33 extend between the end Walls of the frame. The ribs have upper edges 34 and 35, respectively, disposed in a common horizontal plane located closer to the center of the vertical extent of the frame than to the undersides of reinforced flanges 30. The ribs have upper and lower flanges 36 and 37, respectively, which extend from the ri-bs toward the adjacent side walls of the frame. Lower rib anges 37 are coplanar with lower frame flange 29, as shown in FIG. 3.

Rib 33 at frame end Wall 23 is rigidly secured to the end wall adjacent the intersection of the end wall with side wall 21. The other end of rib 33 is rigidly connected to frame end wall 24 adjacent its midlength and on the side of the midlength of the end wall toward frame side wall 21. 4Ri'b 32 is rigidly secured to frame end wall 23 adjacent the intersection of this end wall with frame side wall 2v2; the other end of the rib is 3 rigidly secured to frame end wall 24 adjacent the midlength of this frame end wall but toward side Wall 22. The ribs thus converge toward each other proceeding from end wall 23 to end wall 24. Corresponding points on the ribs are disposed equidistantly from a vertically disposed longitudinal center plane 38 through the frame.

A plurality of vertical disposed transverse braces 40 and 41 are rigidly interconnected between each of the ribs and the adjacent side walls of the frame. The vertical extent of the braces is equal to the vertical extent of the ribs, as shown in FIG. 3. Braces 40 are disposed substantially parallel to frame end Wall 23 and are spaced approximately one-fourth the length of the frame from this end wall. Braces 41 are disposed substantially parallel to frame end wall 24 between this end wall and the midlength of the Lframe. Braces 41 are disposed closer to the midlength of the lframe than to frame end wall 24. A web 42 closes the area between frame bottom flange 29 and each of rib lower flanges 37 and braces 40.

Three bolting pads 45, 46, and 47 extend downwardly from frame 20. The bolting pads have lower end surfaces 48 disposed in a common plane parallel to the plane defined by the upper surfaces of reinforced flanges 30. Bolting pad 45 is extended downwardly from web 42 adjacent the intersection of frame side wall 22 with frame end wall 23. Bolting pad 46 extends downwardly from the other web 42 and is spaced from end wall 23 the same distance that bolting pad 45 is spaced from this end wall. Bolting pad 47 is extended from a we'b 49 which extends between the lower extents of ribs 32 and 33 adjacent frame end wall 24. Boltin'g pad 47 is aligned on the longitudinal center plane through the frame. The bolting pads define axial bores 50 through their extents and through the webs from which they extend.

The bolting pads adapt foundation for three-point bolted connection to a diving board support pedestal, such as pedestal 12, by bolt 51. The foundation may be easily adjusted and -aligned on the pedestal so that the upper surfaces of reinforced anges 30 lare horizontal. Such positioning of the 4foundation can be rapidly accomplished by the use of shirns around the bolts. Since only three bolting pads are used, the Ialignment procedure is not unduly time consuming.

Reinforced iianges 30 define lbearing and guiding rails for a movable fulcrum in accord with my United States Patent 3,072,401. When it is desired that the foundation be used with a movable fulcrum in accord with my copending application Ser. No. 490,050, `a pair of rectangul-arly cross-sectioned rails 17 are secured in parallel spaced relationship to reinforced anges 30 by screws 52,

as :shown in FIG. 3. The rails preferably are fabricated from hard anodized aluminum and are so mounted to the frame that their upper surfaces lie in a common plane parallel to the plane in which lie the bottom ends of the bolting pads.

The upper edges of ribs 32 and 33 and of braces 40 and 41 are spaced below anges 30 so that frame 20 is adapted for use with movable fulcrums in accord with either my previously issued patent or the above referenced copending application. In a movable fulcrum of the type shown in FIG. l and described more fully in my copending application, the lower surface of fulcrum frame carries a leaf spring 57. The leaf spring extends parallel to the elongate extent of drum 14 and is secured at its midlength to the underside of the fulcrum frame. 'Ihe opposite ends of the spring carry rotatable wheels 58 which are engaged with the undersurfaces of reinforced flanges 30. The wheels are urged into engagement with the anges by the bias of the spring. The-'wheels are freely movable along the undersides of iianges 30 along the entire length of frame 20 in view of the clearance provided between the undersides of flanges 30 and the upper edges of braces 40 and 41.

The foundation described above may be used with substantially any diving board support pedestal presently known. When the pedestals are rst installed, their upper surfaces are essentially horizontal. After the pedestals have been installed, however, it is not at all uncommon for the concrete swimming pool deck to which the pedestal is mounted to isettle, thereby deforming the pedestal or moving the top of the pedestal out of a horizontal plane. Where the guide rails for a movable fulcrum are secured directly to the pedestal, such settling of the swimming pool deck racks the rails and produces binding of the fulcrum on the rails. Because of the three point suspension of foundation 10 to the pedestal, a significant lamount of movement of the pedestal must be experienced before the fulcrum rails are racked suciently to produce a noticeable effect upon the operation of the movable fulcrum. In the even that the pedestal is moved or warped an amount suicient to produce a noticeable effect upon the operation of the movable fulcrum, it is a simple matter to unbolt the foundation from the pedestal and to shim the foundation relative to the pedestal so that the rails lare lagain disposed to a horizontal plane.

The foundation described above is a presently preferred foundation in accord with this invention. This foundation has been described merely for the purposes of illustrating and explaining the invention. Workers skilled in the art to which the invention relates will appreciate that modifications and alterations to the abovedescribed structure may be made without departing from the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is not to be considered 4as limiting the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A foundation and support for a springboard fulcrum `adapted to 'be secured to a springboard support structure comprising an open elongate frame having side and end walls, a pair of rib members extending rigidly between the frame end walls, the rib members converging from one end wall of the frame toward each other at the other end wall, three bolting pads extending downwardly from the frame adapting the frame for three-point bolted connection to the springboard support structure, the pads being positioned adjacent the frame corners at one end of the frame and adjacent the middle of the other end of the frame, and a pair of parallel rails carried on the frame along the upper edges of the side walls.

2. A foundation and support for la movable springboard fulcrum adapted to be secured to a springboard support structure between the structure and the springboard comprising an elongate frame having a substantially rectangular planform configuration dened by side and end walls, a flange extending along the length of the upper edge of each side wall laterally therefrom toward the other side wall `and having an upper surface coplanar wit-h the -upper surface of the other flange, a pair of rigid rib members secured rigidly lat their opposite ends to the end walls of the frame and extending between the end walls, each rib member being secured at one end thereof to one end wall adjacent the intersection of the one end wall with a side wall land being secured at the other end thereof to the other end wall adjacent the midlength of the other end wall so that the rib members converge toward each other proceeding from the one end wall to the other end wall, a bolting pad e'xtended downwardly from the frame adjacent each intersection of one end wall with the side walls, and a bolting pad extended downwardly from the frame adjacent the midlength of the opposite end wall for adapting the frame for three-point bolted connection to the springboard support structure, the bolting pads terminating in a common plane parallel to the upper surfaces of the flanges, the frame side and end walls fand the rib members cooperating to maintain the flange upper surfaces coplanar so that a movable springboard fulcrum may move smoothly therealong and not jam Kagainst the struc- 5 ture of the foundation and support during use of the fulcrum.

3. A foundation and support for a movable springboard fulcrum `adapted to tbe secured to a springboard support structure between the structure and the springboard comprising an'elongate fname having a substantially rectangular planform configuration defined by side and end Walls, a ange extending along the length of the upper `edge of each side wall laterally therefrom toward the other side wall and having an upper surface coplanar with the upper surface of the other ang a pair of rigid ri'b members secured rigidly at their opposite ends to the end Walls of the frame and extending 'between the end walls, each rib member being secured at one end thereof to one end wall adjacent the intersection of the one end Wall with a side wall and being secured at the other end thereof to the other end wall adjacent the midlength of the other end wall so that the rib members converge toward each other proceeding from the one end wall to the other end wall, a bolting pad extended downwardly from the frame adjacent each intersection of the one end Wall with the side walls, and a bolting pad extended downwardly from the frame 'between the rib members adjacent the midlength of the other end wall for adapting the frame for three-point bolted connection to the springboard support structure, the 'bolting pads terminating in a common plane parallel to the upper surfaces of the anges, and brace members disposed transversely of the length of the frame tbetween the side walls and the ribs at selected locations along the frame, the brace members and the rib members having upper edges spaced below the under surfaces of the flanges, the frame side and end walls and the rib and brace members cooperating to maintain the ilange upper surfaces coplanar so that a mova'ble springboard fulcrurn may move smoothly therealong and not jam against the structure of the foundation and support during use of the fulcrulm.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,974,158 9/1934 yOkenus-s 248-23 2,174,209 9/1939 Genest et Ial 248-20 2,739,773 3/ 1956 Rougemont 24S-19 XR 2,937,871 5/ 1960 McCaiferty 248-23 XR 3,072,401 1/ 1963 Rude 272-66 FOREIGN PATENTS 20,093 4/ 1915 Denmark.

JOHN PETO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FOUNDATION AND SUPPORT FOR A SPRINGBOARD FULCRUM ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO A SPRINGBOARD SUPPORT STRUCTURE COMPRISING AN OPEN ELONGATE FRAME HAVING SIDE AND END WALLS, A PAIR OF RIB MEMBERS EXTENDING RIGIDLY BETWEEN THE FRAME END WALLS, THE RIB MEMBERS CONVERGING FROM ONE END WALL OF THE FRAME TOWARD EACH OTHER AT THE OTHER END WALL, THREE BOLTING PADS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE FRAME ADAPTING THE FRAME FOR THREE-POINT BOLTED CONNECTION TO THE SPRINGBOARD SUPPORT STRUCTURE, THE PADS BEING POSITIONED ADJACENT THE FRAM CORNERS AT ONE END OF THE FRAME FRAME AND ADJACENT THE MIDDLE OF THE OTHER END OF THE FRAME, AND A PAIR OF PARALLEL RAILS CARRIED ON THE FAME ALONG THE UPPER EDGES OF THE SIDE WALLS. 